Rector-Commandant Brigadier General Jan Farlík and the Vice-Rector of the University of Defence for External Relations and Internationalization, Colonel General Staff Petr Hlavizna, visited Turkish military educational institutions and the company Baykar from 26 to 29 November 2025. General Farlík also met with the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Turkey, Mr. Petr Štěpánek, and with the Czech Defence Attaché.

At the National Defence University (NDU), they were welcomed by Rector Professor Erhan Afyoncu and Vice-Rector Rear Admiral Erhan Aydin. The University of Defence delegation was introduced not only to the structure of the NDU but also to its broad portfolio of educational, scientific, and expert activities.

The discussions focused primarily on internationalization and exploring opportunities for potential cooperation between the two institutions. Both sides agreed to support the exchange of students and academic staff under the Erasmus+ programme and to prepare potential international scientific projects.

The visit also included familiarization with the activities and facilities of the Air Force Academy. General Farlík discussed methods, forms, and approaches to the education and training of students with the Commander, Major General Vedat Öncel, and the Dean, Professor Nurettin Acir.

The aim of the visit to the Turkish private company Baykar, renowned especially for the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı, and Kızılelma, was to learn about the history and production of these aircraft.
Baykar is one of the most significant players in the global drone market and one of the main exporters of the Turkish defence industry.

General Farlík had the opportunity to speak with Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar and the Production Director and Deputy General Manager, Hüseyin Topuz. He praised both the technical sophistication of the UAVs and the technology of the production facility.

At the Çorlu Air Base, the Czech delegation was shown a test flight of the Akıncı UAV, the workstations of the ground control station, and the full range of payload pods used by the UAV types produced. An unforgettable experience was the demonstration of the ground control station for the Kızılelma unmanned fighter aircraft, which at that moment was conducting a test flight together with F‑16 aircraft of the Turkish Armed Forces over the Black Sea. Kızılelma is one of the most ambitious projects of the Turkish defence industry.

Author: Petr Hlavizna

Photo: Turkish National Defence University, Baykar